"Dr. Germ" released from custody...who wants an egg?

The elections played a role in the release from prison of the 24 or 25 officials from Saddam's government, said Badee Izzat Aref, the Iraqi lawyer who made the announcement.

"The release was an American-Iraqi decision and in line with an Iraqi government ruling made in December 2004 but hasn't been enforced until after the elections in an attempt to ease the political pressure in Iraq," Aref said.

Among the freed inmates were Rihab Taha, a British-educated biological-weapons expert, who was known as "Dr. Germ" for her role in making bio-weapons in the 1980s, and Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, known as "Mrs. Anthrax," a former top Baath party official and biotech researcher, a legal official in Baghdad said.

Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, would say only that eight people formerly designated as high-value detainees were released Saturday after a board process found they were no longer a security threat and no charges would be filed against them.

The Baghdad official, who asked not to be identified, said those released also included Hossam Mohammed Amin, head of the weapons inspections directorate, and Aseel Tabra, an Iraqi Olympic Committee official under Odai Saddam Hussein, the former leader's son.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Just back from a trip to Iraq, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, suggested proof is coming soon that deposed leader Saddam Hussein had a WMD program that could have turned out an operational weapon on short notice .

"My judgment is that there is going to be breaking positive news in the very near future," Roberts told a Capitol Hill news conference where he joined colleagues in talking about their trip to Iraq. Roberts said scientists involved with Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program are talking to the U.S. inspection team.

Roberts later told reporters that while the top Iraqi scientist in U.S. custody, Rihab Taha (dubbed "Dr. Germ") is not being helpful, "people under her are telling a different story." He said inspectors are now going through WMD documents.

"There are several items of real interest I think that really make a breakthrough in terms of a positive thing," said Roberts. "I'd be a little careful were I overly critical about the lack of finding any WMD. You may end up with WMD and some egg on your face."